Lisa walked toward the waiting carriage, where Klaus extended his hand to help her inside. As she settled in, her gaze shifted to Helen.
"I'll take the other carriage," Helen said, and Lisa nodded. The guards closed the curtains, and Lisa found herself alone with Klaus.
"Uhm… how long is the trip?" she asked curiously, trying to break the silence.
"We'll arrive tomorrow morning," he replied.
Lisa pouted. She hated long trips. "I wish there was something fast we could use to travel between kingdoms quickly," she muttered.
Klaus chuckled softly. "When I was a child, my parents traveled to other kingdoms using dragons."
Lisa burst into laughter. "Dragons? You're joking, right?"
Her laughter faded as curiosity took over. There were always rumors about the demon king's age—some said he was two hundred years old, others claimed four hundred. Now, Lisa was more curious than ever.
"So… what time was that?" she asked, trying not to sound too direct.
"Six hundred years ago. My parents died then," he replied calmly.
Lisa's eyes widened in shock. Six hundred years ago?
"And you are…"
"Nine hundred and ninety-nine," Klaus answered before she could finish her question.
Lisa instinctively used her fingers to count, her gaze darting back to him. A hard lump formed in her throat, and she quickly averted her eyes, focusing on the curtains instead.
"He's just one year away from being one thousand years old." She could hardly believe it.
She should have realized it sooner, considering he had a one-hundred-year-old son.
The rest of the ride was silent. Lisa stayed quiet, still processing the revelation.
---
By the time the carriage stopped, the sky had darkened. The guards quickly created a campfire and set up tents while Klaus stepped out and helped Lisa down.
Helen hurried over with a cloak. "Here," she said, draping it over Lisa's shoulders. "Do you need anything else, My Lady?"
Lisa shook her head, her gaze shifting to Klaus. He stood nearby, shrouded in his usual black cloak.
"I get why he wears a cloak," she thought. "The world has moved on—men now wear tunics and hose—but he's still stuck in his formal attire."
"The tent is ready," Helen told Lisa, who nodded and walked toward it. Helen moved to assist her in removing her jewelry, but Lisa waved her off.
Once alone, Lisa busied herself taking off her jewelry when Klaus entered the tent. She pretended not to notice his presence, though in her mind, she couldn't help but wonder, "Are we sharing a bed tonight?"
Her thoughts were interrupted when the guards walked in, placing a variety of delicacies on the small table before exiting.
"You should eat," Klaus said.
Lisa nodded, sitting on the ground and wrapping her legs beneath her. As she ate, her curiosity got the better of her.
"Why can't I feel your emotions toward me?" she asked, breaking the silence.
She could sense the emotions of wolves, witches, demons—even animals. But with Klaus, she felt absolutely nothing.
"You know why," he replied, his tone calm.
Lisa frowned and shook her head. "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking."
She paused, thinking deeply. She could feel the emotions of every living creature—except the dead.
Her eyes widened as a thought struck her. "You… you're dead…" She trailed off, then laughed nervously, shaking her head. "What am I even saying? That's impossible. You're right here, alive and the king of demons. There must be another explanation."
Klaus didn't respond.
"Go to sleep after your meal," he stated, turning to leave.
"Won't you sleep too?" Lisa asked suddenly, stopping him in his tracks.
He glanced at the small bed the guards had managed to install. There was only one.
"Do you want to share a bed with me?" he asked, his tone unreadable.
"We're married, right?" Lisa replied, her gaze steady.
Klaus nodded.
"Then it's normal for us to share a bed," she added.
He sighed internally, unable to understand her. One moment, she was distant and cold toward him; the next, she wanted him close.
---
After a quiet meal, Lisa laid on the bed, turning her gaze to the wall. She shut her eyes nervously as she felt the bed dip slightly when Klaus lay beside her.
A small smile crept onto her lips, but it quickly disappeared as she remembered Maradona's words: "You didn't have a marriage festival, so the other demons don't see you as their queen."
"Who cares if they acknowledge me?" she thought.
"Good night, Klaus," she muttered softly.
"You know he'll be there, right?" Klaus said, breaking the silence.
Lisa knew exactly who he was talking about—Davin.
"Yes, I know," she replied nonchalantly, though her mind raced. She wasn't eager to see Davin because she missed him. She wanted to prove something to him.
"I don't care," she added firmly.
Klaus chuckled lightly. "I once knew a woman, years ago. She was a witch, and back then, she had only one goal in mind."
Lisa turned to face him, her curiosity piqued. "What goal?"
"To make her husband the strongest man alive," Klaus said, his tone dark. "She experimented with spells and needed demon blood for her work."
Lisa's eyes widened. "You gave her your blood, didn't you?"
Klaus nodded.
"Did she succeed?" Lisa asked anxiously.
"Yes. She marked him with a spell that made him incredibly strong. He conquered kingdom after kingdom, striking fear into the hearts of everyone he met."
Lisa sat up, her gaze fixed on Klaus. "Did he come to the demon kingdom?"
"He did. He killed my parents and sought to kill me as well. But his wife stopped him. She told him I was the reason he had his strength—because of the blood I gave her."
Klaus's voice grew heavy with regret. "That's when I realized I was the reason for my parents' deaths. If I hadn't given her my blood, she wouldn't have created that monster."
Lisa could hear the pain in his voice. She wanted to tell him it wasn't his fault, that he couldn't have known, but the guilt he carried was evident.
"She tried to reverse the damage by sealing the mark with the help of an old wolf. Her husband's name was Shred," Klaus added.
Lisa's eyes widened in recognition. "The Shred Mark?"
Klaus nodded.
Lisa had heard of the forbidden mark, said to be incredibly dangerous. She had no idea it could grant such power.
"I'd rather die than let Davin use my blood to activate such a mark," she swore fiercely.
If Davin ever obtained such power, no one would be spared.